Video 5:21
Chooky dancers flying high

Jano Gibson
Sat 8 Mar 2014, 9:52 AM AEDT

They found fame through a YouTube video clip, but the Chooky Dancers are no one-hit wonder. Seven years after their techno-infused rendition of Zorba the Greek went viral, the group now known as Djuki Mala have started their biggest national tour yet.

Transcript

ALYSSA BETTS, PRESENTER: They found fame through a YouTube video clip, but the Chooky Dancers are no one-hit wonder. Seven years after their techno-infused rendition of Zorba the Greek went viral, the Indigenous dancers from Elcho Island have started their biggest national tour yet. Now known as Djuki Mala, the group's tour is about more than just dance. They're keen to give audiences a glimpse into their lives back home in Arnhem Land. Jano Gibson reports.

JANO GIBSON, REPORTER: The Djuki Mala are one of Australia's premiere Indigenous dance troupes. But they're not afraid to throw tradition out the window. It's the opening night of the group's national tour. The Darwin Entertainment Centre is packed to capacity as the boys from Elcho Island perform their signature routine - Zorba the Greek - Yolngu style.

BAYKALI GANAMBARR, DJUKI MALA DANCER: Very uplifting, especially when you have your, like other dancers beside you and gives you more energy just to dance and get it all out.

JANO GIBSON: The story of the Chooky Dancers - as they used to be known - began seven years ago, on a basketball court in Arnhem Land.

MARGARET NYUNGUNYUNGU, DJUKI MALA ELDER: My husband said can you do me a favour and film one of our groups you know.

JANO GIBSON: Margaret Nyungunyungu's husband was a trailblazing elder known as Big Frank, who saw something special in the Chookies and decided to share the clip with the world.

JOSHUA BOND, DJUKI MALA PRODUCER: It was filmed and uploaded onto YouTube and the rest is history.

JANO GIBSON: Within days the amateur video had gone viral, generating hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube.

MARGARET NYUNGUNYUNGU, DJUKI MALA ELDER: He was so excited that he came rushing back home, you know saying "we're lucky, me and the boys, that I've put that video clip - there's too many hits, we'll just be waiting for anyone to call us and come you know".

JANO GIBSON: And call they did - the success of Zorba the Greek has taken these dancers across Australia and across the world.By fusing traditional dance with international sounds and spicing it up with a touch of comedy the group has sustained its success.

NICKY ASHBY, DJUKI MALA CHOREOGRAPHER: It goes beyond just a description of modern and traditional dance - it's something bigger which is why they are so amazing to watch and entertaining.

NICKY ASHBY, DJUKI MALA CHOREOGRAPHER: They just need to watch once or twice and they've got it down, which is some of the most extraordinary dancers I've worked with haven't even been able to do that.

JANO GIBSON: Their show also shares traditional dances and songs from their homeland.

BAYKALI GANAMBARR, DJUKI MALA DANCER: There's a group of elders that gave us permission to use the song-lines and dances in the show. They gave us permission and we're sharing out our culture to the wider community.

JANO GIBSON: Between each dance number a video is projected onto a screen, giving the audience an insight into the lives of the dancers.

JOSHUA BOND, DJUKI MALA PRODUCER: It's the first time that we've had the opportunity to share a bit of our story and invite the audience in to share some of the more intimate experience and moments.

JANO GIBSON: One of those moments came in 2011, when tragedy struck the close-knit group. One of the dancers was walking across a busy Darwin road when he was hit by a car and killed.

MULTHARA GARAWIRRTJA, DARREN'S MOTHER: Make me feel I was lost. It was something that hit me to my life that I love my son very much.

JANO GIBSON: As part of their national tour, the group is visiting schools to encourage health and hope. One of their key aims is to prevent youth suicide - a tragedy that affects young Territorians at four times the national rate.

BAYKALI GANAMBARR, DJUKI MALA DANCER: In communities there's, there's so much like you know youth suicide so we're sending out a message by dancing and sharing our culture, dance, songs. There's many youth out there that needs a leader, a role model and we're here - we're here to help.

JANO GIBSON: For the elders who've watched these young men go from internet celebrities to leaders sharing their Yolngu culture with the world, it's a dream come true.